The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1887-09-09
THE GRANGE.
National Lecturers Departmer

"The prosperity of the South is with
out doubt confined almost exclusively
to the cities. The farmers condition
does not improve"
This item from a Southern paper
really gives the condition of affairs over
the whole country. AS proven by the
U. S. census and all later statistics, the
depression of agriculture is growing
greater with every passing year. The
value of the farm and its crops is con.
stantly shrinking. And yet the country
was never increasing in wealth so rap
idly as now. Why should agriculture
be the only interest that is going back
ward? What are the causes? What
the remedy? These are questions that
should be discussed by every Grange
in the land. Would it not help If
farmers were as well organized as the
manufacturers and other city interests?
Would not "protection" for our pro-
ducts in the proportion given other in.
dustries help us? protection" has
built up these other industries and
made them prosperous, would it not be
we'll to build up agriculture in the same
way, put good tariffs on fruits, hides,
eggs, vegetables and other products
now admitted "free,' and larger tariffs
on hay, lumber, potatoes, wool, tobacco,
sugar, ETC.? True, we have large
surplus revenue now. If more than is
needed for expenses of the National
Government, why not divide it up
among the states to run the state gov
ernments las was done when Andrew
jackson was President and so save
state taxes, or, if necessary, divide
again among the counties and so save
county taxes. Some recommend Free
Trade, but would it help farmers to pull
manufacturers down to the farmers de-
pressed almost Free Trade basis?
To protect her farmers France has
tariff so high on beef, pork and grain
that it is prohibitory, and last winter
the French Congress increased the tariff
on raw sugar at the very time our Con-
gress was discussing "free" raw sugar
(and all "free" raw materials.) Spain
increased her tariff on cereals last win.
ter 25 per cent. Statistics tell US that
over sixteen million dozen of foreign
eggs largely from France) landed In
this country last year and free of all
duties. If France and Spain, by tariff,
close their markets for our beef, pork
and grain, let us close ours in the same
way against their pauper hens. Let US
try tariff of 78 per cent on eggs (the
average on manufactured goods and see
fyou cannot build up this "American
Industry"
accomplished its mission, 1 sup,
pose," was the reply of a writer in one
of our leading newspapers recently to
the inquiry, "Wlat has become of the
Grange?"
accomplished its mission p When
farmers cease to know want. and be.
come independent of human sympathy
and fraternal counsels; when their iso
lated homes shall have been brought
into union with teeming companion
ship; when farmers shall have ceased
to be "hewers of wood" etc., to other
callings, and peace and plenty crown
their boards, and the lion and the lamb
among mortals lie down together in the
evergreen pasture of mutual rights,
then may we talk of mission accom-
plished. There is an urgent necessity
for such an organization as the Grange
for the farmers now as in former years,
and every true Patron will echo the
earnest wish that every farmer in the
Union would join the Grange. Its
teachings rest their foundation upon
the "Sook Of Books" and as we'll tell
us the church militant has accomplish.
ed its mission. Erase, if you please,
the name of Grange from the lexicon
of time, and the thousand syndicates
which it has formed in the hearts of its
faithful adherents will find thousand |
tongues to utter its praise.-Fdrmers'
Home Journal.
"To make the Grange fill its mission,
there must be active fathers and moth.
ers, who have the love of man and
country at heart. In order to WELD an
influence they must CO operate in the
same manner that we do to carry on
church or school. They will soon per-
ceive that their sons and daughters are
essential personages to carry out their
objects. Get the American people to
talking over a matter, and they will
ferret out the trnth. If, then, there is
right in the matter, agitation will bring
it out, and agitation brings action. Let
farmers come to the Grange, and profit
by experience. There will be fewer
millionaires. Wealth will be equally
distributed ProoraSsiua fhouuhk and